Match-box



No. 589,050. Patented Aug. 31, 1897.

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vUNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

AMos WILLIAM wARNooK, on DoRoHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 589,050, ydated August 31, 1897.

l Application filed January 2, 1897. Serial No. 617,762. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/oerw- Be it known that I, AMos WILLIAM WAR- NOCK, a citizen. of the United States, and a resident ofDorchester, county of Suolk, and

State of Massachusetts, have invented cei-,

tain new anduseful Improvements in Match- Boxes, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, form ing a part thereof, in which similar letters of referenceA indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to improvements in match-boxes, the object thereof being to sup ply an articleY of this character adapted for containing a quantity of matchespstored in such a manner as to deliver but one match at a time by a'mechanism operated by the consumer,whereby unscrupulous persons areprevented from appropriating quantities of matches from boxes located iii-public places Without the necessity of eXpending considerable time and energy.

The device is simple in construction, durable, and inexpensive, and it is assembled in such a manner as to avoid danger of igniting surrounding objects by possible accidental combustion of the matches contained therein.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claims..

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of myimproved match-box, showing a portion of the front wall thereof broken away. Fig. 2' is a vertical sectional elevation taken on a linea: :n ofFig.'1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan'view taken on a line -y y of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 isa sectional plan view taken on a line z e of Fig. l.

In the practice of my invention I provide a vertically-arranged casing A, comprising a front wall a, sidewalls a', and a rear wall a2, whereby a vertical compartment A is formed. Extended from the inner surface of the walls cr and a2 are guidesl, adapted for preventing frictional contact of the matches against the walls a and a?.

Normallyarranged within theoutlet A2 is a swinging lever B, which is p ivotally attached to the stud bby meansof'a spindle b.

.be removed for the This said lever comprises twoarms B and B2, and it is maintained in itsnormal position by means of a Spiral spring C.

Projected upwardly from the arm B2 is a linger B3, which is adapted for engagement with a swinging lever D, which said lever is mounted upon a spindle or screw d, secured Yto a st ud d', forming part of the framework of the device. This said lever is normally maintained in a position out ofline with the dischargeopening A2, whereby the lower Vmatch of the series will rest upon the arm B of the lever B, as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 2 and3 of the drawings.

The lever D is maintained in its normal position, as shown by full lines in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, by means of a spiral spring E, andthe motion thereof is limited bya stop F, forming part of the casing A. As a means for operating the lever D a handle D'is connected to the outer end thereof.

As a means 'for feeding the matches down? wardly within'the compartment Af, I provide a weight G, which .moves by'gra'vity downwardly as the matches 'are discharged from the machine. This said weight' is connected to a string G', which has a ring g upon the end thereof for operating it, whereby when the matches are all exhausted the'weight can purpose of refilling the casing A. y

The device is mounted upon brackets H, preferably upon the wall I, whereby the casing is at a considerable distance from the wall to prevent danger of setting fire to the same by accidental combustion of the. matches.

Located beneath the discharge-opening A2 of the casing is a receptacle-J, adapted to receive the matches-as they drop from the machine. Y 1

In the operation of the device in order to remove the match therefrom the lever D is pushed in the direct-ion of thearrow 2 until it assumes the position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3 of the drawings,whereby the arm B ofthe lever D is swung rearwardlyfor a sufficient distance to discharge the lower match. The lever D is then allowed tospring back into its normal position,whereby the arm B will again close the discharge-opening of l'OO the casing and receive the next descending match. |This operation can be repeated until the matches are exhausted.

Having thus described my invention,\vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A match-box adapted for discharging one match at a time, comprising a vertical compartment adapted to receive a series of matches, a spring-pressed lever normally closing the outlet from the said compartment and a swinging lever adapted for separating the matches and throwing the said spring-pressed lever ont of line with the discharge-opening, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a match-box for delivering but one match at a time, the combination of a Vertically-arranged compartment adapted for receiving a series of matches and a two-armed spring-actuated lever located at the dischargeopening of the said compartment, and a springretained swinging lever for separating the matches and operating the said two-armed lever, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a match-box for delivering but one match at a time, the combination of the vertically-arranged compartment having projections upon t-he inner surface of the front and rear walls thereof and the weight for feeding the matches, and the two-armed lever for normally closing the outlet of the said compartment, said lever being normally maintained in position by means of a spring, and the swinging lever normally maintained ont of line with the discharge-opening by means of a spring, and the receptacle for receiving the matches as they are discharged from the machine, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of December, 189e'.

AMOS WILLIAM WARNOCK.

Witnesses:

GEORGE EDGAR GoDFREY, JAMES S. GIBSON. 

